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RAUK - Archived Forum - Reptiles in South Bucks

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Reptiles in South Bucks:

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mikebrown
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
No. of posts: 95


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Posted: 30 Jun 2005

Although I now live in Merseyside, I am originally from South Buckinghamshire. When I was a kid (in the late 1960's and early 1970's) reptiles such as Grass snakes, adders, slow-worms and Common Lizards dould be found quite frequently at various localities (I'm not sure if I should name specific sites here.) Now, on the occasions I visit my original haunts, although some habitat has disappeared completely or changed from heathland to total tree cover, others still do not appear to contain reptiles, certainly not snakes, even where some suitable habitat remains.

I would be very interested to hear from anyone now living in the South Bucks area as to what they find there now. It appears to me that there has been an enormous reduction in reptiles, especially snakes, in what was 30 odd years ago a very productive area for them.

mikebrown38533.8251157407
Mike Brown
Merseyside ARG
Andy_B
Member
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
No. of posts: 19


View other posts by Andy_B
Posted: 10 Jan 2006
hey mike i live in south bucks, and although never seen snakes here i do know for a fact there are numerous small sites where Adders/Grass snakes are to be found. Like you i am not sure whether to disclose these sites, however some are just small local nature reserves/woodlands and in the Chiltern hills. Im intrigued about your experience of reptiles in this area and never knew any heathland ever existed here! If i can help any more plz let me kno. thanx.
mikebrown
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
No. of posts: 95


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Posted: 11 Jan 2006

Hi Andy!

At last someone has responded to the above message!

The area I mostly knew was around Gerrards Cross, where there was some heathland and plenty of Grass Snakes, Slow-Worms and Common Lizards. Adders used to occur at several sites south of there.

Where do you live?

Cheers,

Mike Brown


Mike Brown
Merseyside ARG
Vickie Lizard
Member
Joined: 22 Apr 2007
No. of posts: 6


View other posts by Vickie Lizard
Posted: 22 Apr 2007

 Hi Mike, Im origionaly (carnt speel!) from High Wycombe, but now live in West Wales, been here for nearly 12 yrs now.

 When I was a kid growing up in Wooburn Green, there were adders, common toads, plenty of common frogs, lots of slow worms, and a sprinkling of common lizards!

 My grandparent`s still live in Beaconsfeild, and we await my grandad`s proud pics of his resident grass snake, and frogs, every year, in the spring, with bated breath!

 We seem to have less toads here in Wales, but as we live near to a river, reedbed, and coast, we get tons of froggies! We do see the odd lizard, but we seem to have plenty of slow worms here. Nice to chat! 


Its always better to ask for forgiveness after, than ask for permission before!!!
st rick
Senior Member
Joined: 26 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 141


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Posted: 22 Apr 2007

Mike, I'm sure reptile numbers have decreased in recent years all over the country and you are probably correct in what you say about about your old haunts.

However, you have to take factors like time of the year or even time of the day into consideration, especially if you are thinking back over several years. 

For example, I was looking in a pond in Saffron Walden, in Essex last September, a place I remembered being very good for newts when I was a child.  I got a bit depressed to see no newts at all and decided, in my usual nostalgic fashion that the pond wasn't what it used to be when I was a nipper.  However, I went back there the other day to find the thing teeming with newts, just like the old days.  The moral of the story is that Spring is the best time for spotting most herps.

Is it possible you were just revisiting your old spots out of season?

I don't know S. Bucks, but I've had it on good authority Burnham Beeches is good for Adders.  Is that N. Bucks?


mikebrown
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
No. of posts: 95


View other posts by mikebrown
Posted: 22 Apr 2007

Hi Rick,

Burnham Beeches is in S. Bucks and I think you're right, it is good for adders again now - there was a NARRS training day held there this Spring.

However, I was back around Gerrards Cross briefly earlier this Spring, and still seemed poorer for reptiles than it used to be. As you say, it is probably true that many places have experienced similar declines over the last thirty years or so. Good to know that there are still Grass Snakes in Beaconsfield, however.

Cheers,

Mike


Mike Brown
Merseyside ARG
armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


View other posts by armata
Posted: 24 Apr 2007
We've covered this ground before - but East Burnham (Burnham beeches) was where i started with my adders at 8yrs of age. They have done a great job getting the adders back on line (perhaps too many long-horns).

One of best grass snake sites in south Bucks was Littleworth Common. The pond next to the New Inn (if it is still called that) has been sanitised but as a kid I could walk arounf that pond in May/june and see up to 40 snakes in a visit.
Stoke Common may still have adders - Black Park Does.

Vicky I don't know where you are in mid-Wales but if you want see adders and hundreds of common lizards go to Cor Caron NR (Tregaron). Also Borth Bog is v.good.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
AGILIS
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
No. of posts: 694


View other posts by AGILIS
Posted: 26 Apr 2007
HI ALL great to see how many from the forum know of  Burnham beeches as an adder spot I can as Tony remember it from many years ago the motto among us young herps in the late 1950s was want to see and catch adders go to Burnham Beeches if you could rustle up the price of the  fare on a LT Greenline coach and go through Tony ,s favourite town via other buses of the time I think quite few of Epping forest adders owe their origin from there and the likes of George Malenoir ................................... KEITH  AGILIS39198.5342476852
   LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
mikebrown
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2005
No. of posts: 95


View other posts by mikebrown
Posted: 26 Apr 2007

I used to pedal the 6 or so miles from Tatling End through the country lanes to Stoke Common and on to Burnham Beeches every sunny Spring and Summer weekend when I was a kid, in the 1960's and early 1970's, and see all the common reptile species. Don't think anyone worried about health and safety in those days.

Mike 


Mike Brown
Merseyside ARG

- Reptiles in South Bucks

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